Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord says: ‘About this time tomorrow at Samaria’s gate, six quarts of fine flour will sell for a half ounce of silver and twelve quarts of barley will sell for a half ounce of silver.’”
Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man, responded to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?”
Elisha announced, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”
Now four men with a skin disease were at the entrance to the city gate. They said to each other, “Why just sit here until we die? If we say, ‘Let’s go into the city,’ we will die there because the famine is in the city, but if we sit here, we will also die. So now, come on. Let’s surrender to the Arameans’ camp. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”
So the diseased men got up at twilight to go to the Arameans’ camp. When they came to the camp’s edge, they discovered that no one was there, for the Lord[e] had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a large army. The Arameans had said to each other, “The king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us.” So they had gotten up and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents, horses, and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had fled for their lives.
When these diseased men came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they picked up the silver, gold, and clothing and went off and hid them. They came back and entered another tent, picked things up, and hid them. Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our punishment will catch up with us. So let’s go tell the king’s household.”
The diseased men came and called to the city’s gatekeepers and told them, “We went to the Aramean camp and no one was there—no human sounds. There was nothing but tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents were intact.” The gatekeepers called out, and the news was reported to the king’s household.
So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and go into the city.’”
But one of his servants responded, “Please, let messengers take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their fate is like the entire Israelite community who will die, so let’s send them and see.”
The messengers took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.” So they followed them as far as the Jordan. They saw that the whole way was littered with clothes and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king.
Then the people went out and plundered the Aramean camp. It was then that six quarts of fine flour sold for a half ounce of silver and twelve quarts of barley sold for a half ounce of silver, according to the word of the Lord. The king had appointed the captain, his right-hand man, to be in charge of the city gate, but the people trampled him in the gate. He died, just as the man of God had predicted when the king had come to him. When the man of God had said to the king, “About this time tomorrow twelve quarts of barley will sell for a half ounce of silver and six quarts of fine flour will sell for a half ounce of silver at Samaria’s gate,” this captain had answered the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” Elisha had said, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.” This is what happened to him: the people trampled him in the city gate, and he died. 2 Kings 7:1-20
Faith-Filled Day 3: The “Impossible” Meal – 2 Kings 7:1-20
Hopeless situations have a way of convincing us that nothing will ever change.
That was the reality in Samaria. The city was under siege by the Aramean army, and the famine inside the walls had become unbearable. Food was so scarce that people were starving, and despair had settled over the entire city. From every human perspective, there was no way out.
Then God spoke…
Then God spoke through the prophet Elisha.
He declared that within twenty-four hours, the famine would end. Fine flour and barley, which had become impossibly expensive, would be sold for just pennies at the city gate.
God’s plans
One of the king’s officers couldn’t believe it. He mocked God’s promise, saying that even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven, such a thing could never happen.
But God’s plans are never limited by human understanding.
Nothing Left to Lose
That night, the Lord caused the Aramean army to hear what sounded like the thunder of horses and chariots. Believing they were about to be attacked by a mighty army, they fled in panic, leaving behind their tents, food, clothing, silver, gold, and supplies.
Outside the city sat four lepers who had nothing left to lose. They decided to go to the enemy camp, expecting either mercy or death. Instead, they discovered the camp completely abandoned and overflowing with food.
Good news
After first satisfying their own hunger, they realized they couldn’t keep the good news to themselves. They returned to the city and told everyone what God had done.
By the next day, the markets were overflowing with food, just as Elisha had prophesied. God’s promise had been fulfilled exactly as He said.
Exactly as He said…
Sometimes we face circumstances that seem just as impossible. A broken relationship, an overwhelming financial burden, an unanswered prayer, or a diagnosis can leave us wondering if things will ever change. Yet God often works in ways we could never predict. While we focus on the obstacles we can see, He is already moving in places we cannot.
The same God who provided an impossible meal for Samaria is still at work today. His timing is perfect, His resources are unlimited, and His promises never fail.
Reflection Questions
- What situation in your life feels impossible right now?
- Have you allowed fear or doubt to overshadow God’s promises?
- How has God surprised you by providing in ways you never expected?
Action Step
Identify one situation that feels beyond your control and write it down in a journal. Beside it, write one Bible promise that reminds you of God’s power and faithfulness. Spend time praying over that promise every day this week. Then take one step of faith instead of waiting in fear—make the phone call, submit the application, offer forgiveness, or begin serving where God has placed you. Trust that while you obey, God is already working in ways you cannot yet see.
Come on over to the Facebook group @DevoInAction (https://www.facebook.com/devoinaction) and share your thoughts about today’s devotional or post a pic of your journaling under Day 3: The “Impossible” Meal – 2 Kings 7:1-20 or post on Instagram and tag me @devoinaction!
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I doubt what You are able to do. When my circumstances seem impossible, help me to trust Your promises instead of my fears. Remind me that You are always working behind the scenes, even when I cannot see it. Fill my heart with hope and confidence that nothing is too difficult for You. Amen.
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